811 

H25c  B^HARTE 


CONCEPCION  DE  AR6UELL0 


H)7t) 


UNIVERSITY  OF 

ILLINOIS  LIBRARY 

AT  URBAr.A-CHAMPAIQN 

ILL  HIST.  SURVEY 


811 

H25c 


THE  ROMANCE  OF  HISPANIC  CALIFORNIA 

CONCEPCION    DE   ARGUELLO 

(PRESIDIO    DE    SAN    FRANCISCO,    1806) 
BY       BRET       HARTE 


WITH  TYPOGRAPHICAL  SPECIMEN  PAGES  OF 
THE  REPORT  OF  COUNT  REZANOV  OF  HIS 
VOYAGE    TO     NUEVA    CALIFORNIA     IN     18  0  6 


1/1  B  R.AR. 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF    ILLINOIS 


CONCEPCION    DE    ARGUELLO 

(PRESIDIO    DE    SAN    FRANCISCO,    1806) 
BY      BRET      HARTE 


DONA  CONCEPCI6N  WAS  DISTINGUISHED  FOR  HER  VIVACITY 
AND  CHEERFULNESS,  HER  LOVE-INSPIRING  AND  BRILLIANT 
EYES,  EXCEEDINGLY  BEAUTIFUL  TEETH,  EXPRESSIVE  AND 
PLEASING  FEATURES,  SHAPELINESS  OF  FIGURE,  AND  FOR  A 
THOUSAND  OTHER  CHARMS,  BESIDES  AN  ARTLESS  NATURAL 
DEMEANOR  -BEAUTIES  OF  HER  KIND  ONE  MAY  FIND, 
THOUGH   SELDOM,  ONLY  IN  ITALY,  PORTUGAL,  AND  SPAIN 

LANGSDORFF:  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS 


SAN       FRANCISCO,       CALIFORNIA 
THE    PRIVATE    PRESS    OF  THOMAS    C.  RUSSELL 

SEVENTEEN   THIRTY-FOUR   NINETEENTH  AVENUE 

19  2  6 


WOULD  REZANOV  HAVE  WED  HER? 

WHAT  THE    HISTORIANS   HAVE  TO    SAY 

DOCTOR  JOSIAH   ROYCE:    CALIFORNIA  (AMERICAN   COMMONWEALTHS) 

IN  1806  the  first  Russian  ship  came  to  the  port  of  San  Francisco,  from  Sitka, 
under  the  direction  of  Rezanof,  an  official  of  high,  position,  who  had  gone  to 
Sitka  as  inspector  of  the  establishmentsthere.  Hispurpose  at  the  moment 
was  to  purchase  supplies  for  the  now  nearly  starving-  colony  at  Sitka.  Although 
such  transactions  with  foreigners  were  forbidden  to  the  Calif  omians,  still,  after 
long  and  vain  negotiations  with  Governor  Arriliaga,  and  with  the  commandant 
of  the  presidio,  Argiiello,  Rezanov  at  last  gained  his  commercial  purpose  by 
dint  of  making  successful  love  to  the  beautiful  daughter  of  Argiiello,  the 
Dona  Concepcion  of  the  well-known  and  highly  romantic  tale  that  has  since 
grown  up  out  of  this  incident.  Rezanof  was  actually  betrothed,  in  the  end,  to 
the  fair  young  daughter;  and  when  he  set  out,  with  his  purchases  made,  it  was 
under  the  solemn  promise  to  return  and  marry  his  new  beloved  as  soon  as 
possible.  He  died,  however,  while  on  his  way  across  Siberia,  during  his  return 
to  St.  Petersburg.  The  story,  told  in  several  versions,and  immortalized  in  Mr. 
Bret  Harte's  best  poem,  has  won  rrfany  tears.  Rezanof  himself  describes  the 
affair,  in  his  reports,  as  a  purely  business-like  stroke  of  diplomacy,  whereby 
he  gained  the  decisive  official  help  of  the  Argiiello  family.  Whether  he  was 
sincere  in  his  love  or  not,  Dona  Concepcion  was  in  hers.  She  died,  as  nun,  at 
Benicia,  in  1857. 

DOCTOR  CHARLES  E.  CHAPMAN:    HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA  -  SPANISH   PERIOD 

The  whole  affair  of  the  courtship  of  Rezanof  and  Concepcion  Argiiello 
occupied  little  more  than  six  weeks,  but  the  real  beauty  of  the  tale  is  in  the 
aftermath,  as  is  so  alluringly  set  forth  in  the  famous  poem  of  Bret  Harte.  .  .  . 
On  March  1,1 807,  at  Krasnoyarsk,  he  died.  Rezanof's  constancy,  therefore, 
was  never  tested.  There  is  no  evidence  as  to  how  he  felt  toward  Concepcion 
after  he  left  Alta  California. 

IRVING  BERDINE   RICH  MAN:    CALIFORNIA  UNDER  SPAIN  AND  MEXICO 

Whether  later  he  [Rezanov]  would  have  performed  with  her  his  nuptial 
contract  (with  naught  for  Russia  to  be  gained  thereby)  is  open  to  question. 

FR.  ZEPHYRIN  ENGELHARDT:    SAN  FRANCISCO,  OR  MISSION  DOLORES 

...  a  slip  of  a  girl,  who  as  the  daughter  of  a  mere  lieutenant  would  hardly 
have  been  admitted  into  the  proud  circles  of  the  richest  court  in  Europe. 


WHAT  REZANOV  HIMSELF  HAS  WRITTEN 

%*  The  report  of  Nikolai  Petrovich  Rezanov  to  Count  Nikolai 
Petrovich,  the  Russian  minister  of  commerce,  translated  from  the  Russian, 
revised  and  corrected,  is  now  in  press  and  will  be  ready  this  autumn  (1926). 
Therein  Rezanov  unbosoms  himself  to  his  friend  the  count  and  dispels  every 
doubt.  The  report  is  a  complete  record  of  events  from  his  leaving  until  his 
return  to  Sitka.  The  edition  of  the  book  is  limited  to  some  two  hundred  and 
sixty  copies,  each  signed,  numbered,  and  registered;  type  large  and  hand-set; 
octavo  (10  X61  ? ");  heavy  ton ed-white  rag  paper;  printed  at  the  Private  Press 
of  Thomas  C.  Russell,  1734  Nineteenth  Avenue,  San  Francisco,  California. 


MARIA  DE  LA  CONCEPCION  MARCELA 
ARGUE  LLC) 

LOVELIEST  OF  THE  LOVELY  SISTERS  OF  DON  LUIS  ARGUELLO,  THE  DONA 
CONCEPC16N  IS  THE  UNIVERSALLY  RECOGNIZED  BEAUTY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

REZANOV 


CONCEPCION     DE    ARGUELLO 

(PRESIDIO        DE        SAN        FRANCISCO,      18  0  6) 


tKiNG  seaward,  o'er  the  sandhills  stands  the  fortress,  old  and 
quaint, 
By  the  San  Francisco  friars  lifted  to  their  patron  saint, - 

Sponsor  to  that  wondrous  city,  now  apostate  to  the  creed, 

On  whose  youthful  walls  the  Padre  saw  the  angel's  golden  reed; 

All  its  trophies  long  since  scattered,  all  its  blazon  brushed  away; 
And  the  flag  that  flies  above  it  but  a  triumph  of  to-day. 

Never  scar  of  siege  or  battle  challenges  the  wandering  eye,- 
Never  breach  of  warlike  onset  holds  the  curious  passer-by; 

Only  one  sweet  human  fancy  interweaves  its  threads  of  gold 
With  the  plain  and  homespun  present,and  a  love  that  ne'er  grows 
old: 

Only  one  thing  holds  its  crumbling  walls  above  the  meaner  dust,- 
Listen  to  the  simple  story  of  a  woman's  love  and  trust. 


II 

Count  von  Resanoff,  the  Russian,  envoy  of  the  mighty  Czar, 
Stood  beside  the  deep  embrasures  where  the  brazen  cannon  are; 

3 


4  THE   REZANOV VOYAGE 

He  with  grave  provincial  magnates  long  had  held  serene  debate 
On  theTreaty  of  Alliance  and  the  high  affairs  of  state; 

He  from  grave  provincial  magnates  oft  had  turned  to  talk  apart 
With  the  Comandante's  daughter  on  the  questions  of  the  heart, 

Until  points  of  gravest  import  yielded  slowly  one  by  one, 
And  by  Love  was  consummated  what  Diplomacy  begun; 

Till  beside  the  deep  embrasures,  where  the  brazen  cannon  are, 
He  received  the  twofold  contract  for  approval  of  the  Czar; 

Till  beside  the  brazen  cannon  the  betrothed  bade  adieu, 

And,  from  sallyport  and  gateway,  north  the  Russian  eagles  flew. 

in 
Long  beside  the  deep  embrasures,  where  the  brazen  cannon  are, 
Did  they  waitthepromisedbridegroom  and  the  answer  of  theCzar; 

Day  by  day  on  wall  and  bastion  beat  the  hollow,  empty  breeze, - 
Day  by  day  the  sunlight  glittered  on  the  vacant,  smiling  seas; 

Week  by  week  the  near  hills  whitened  in  their  dusty  leather  cloaks,- 
Weekby  week  the  far  hills  darkened  from  the  fringing  plain  of  oaks; 

Till  the  rains  came,  and  far-breaking,  on  the  fierce  southwester  tost, 
Dashed  the  whole  long  coast  with  color,  and  then  vanished  and 
were  lost. 

So  each  year  the  seasons  shifted,  -  wet  and  warm  and  drear  and  dry; 
Half  a  year  of  clouds  and  flowers,-  half  a  year  of  dust  and  sky. 

Still  itbrought  no  ship  nor  message, -brought  no  tidings,  ill  or  meet, 
For  the  statesmanlikeCommander,  for  the  daughter  fair  and  sweet. 


TO  NUEVA  CALIFORNIA  5 

Yet  she  heard  the  varying  message, voiceless  to  all  ears  beside: 
"He  will  come," theflowers whispered; "Come  no  more," the  dry 
hills  sighed. 

Still  she  found  him  with  the  waters  lifted  by  the  morningbreeze,- 
Still  she  lost  him  with  the  folding  of  the  great  white-tented  seas; 

Until  hollows  chased  the  dimples  from  hercheeks  of  olive  brown, 
And  at  times  a  swift,  shy  moisture  dragged  the  long  sweet  lashes 
down; 

Or  the  small  mouth  curved  and  quivered  as  for  some  denied  caress, 
And  the  fair  young  brow  was  knitted  in  an  infantine  distress. 

Then  the  grimCommander,pacing  where  thebrazen  cannon  are, 
Comforted  the  maid  with  proverbs,-  wisdom  gathered  from  afar; 

Bits  of  ancient  observation  by  his  fathers  garnered,  each 
As  a  pebble  worn  and  polished  in  the  current  of  his  speech: 

"Those  who  wait  the  coming  rider  travel  twice  as  far  as  he '; 
Tired  wench  and  coming  butter  never  did  in  time  agree'; 

He  that  getteth  himself  honey,though  a  clown, he  shall  have  flies'; 
'In  the  endGod  grinds  the  miller';' In  the  dark  the  mole  has  eyes'; 

He  whose  father  is  Alcalde  of  his  trial  hath  no  fear,'- 
And  be  sure  the  Count  has  reasons  that  will  make  his  conduct  clear." 

Then  the  voice  sententious  faltered,  and  the  wisdom  it  would  teach 
Lost  itself  in  fondest  trifles  of  his  softCastilian  speech; 

And  on"Concha,""Conchitita,"and"Conchita"he  would  dwell 
With  the  fond  reiteration  which  the  Spaniard  knows  so  well. 


6  THE  REZANOV  VOYAGE 

So  with  proverbs  and  caresses,  half  in  faith  and  half  in  doubt, 
Every  day  some  hope  was  kindled, flickered, faded,  and  went  out. 

IV 

Yearly,  down  the  hillside  sweeping,  came  the  stately  cavalcade, 
Bringing  revel  to  vaquero,  joy  and  comfort  to  each  maid; 

Bringing  days  of  formal  visit,  social  feast  and  rustic  sport; 
Of  bull-baiting  on  the  plaza,  of  love-making  in  the  court. 

Vainly  then  at  Concha's  lattice,  vainly  as  the  idle  wind, 

Rose  the  thin  high  Spanish  tenor  that  bespoke  the  youth  too  kind; 

Vainly,  leaning  from  their  saddles,  caballeros,  bold  and  fleet, 
Plucked  for  her  the  buried  chicken  from  beneath  their  mustang's 
feet; 

So  in  vain  the  barren  hillsides  with  their  gay  serapes  blazed, 
Blazed  and  vanished  in  the  dust-cloud  that  their  flying  hoofs  had 
raised. 

Then  the  drum  called  from  the  rampart,  and  once  more,  with 

patient  mien, 
The  Commander  an  d  h  is  daughter  each  took  up  the  dull  routine,- 

Each  took  up  the  petty  duties  of  a  life  apart  and  lone, 

Till  the  slow  years  wrought  a  music  in  its  dreary  monotone. 

v 
Forty  years  on  wall  and  bastion  swept  the  hollow  idle  breeze, 
Since  the  Russian  eagle  fluttered  from  the  California  seas; 

Forty  years  on  wall  and  bastion  wrought  its  slow  but  sure  decay, 
And  St.  George's  cross  was  lifted  in  the  port  of  Monterey; 


TO  NUEVA  CALIFORNIA  7 

And  the  citadel  was  lighted,  and  the  hall  was  gayly  drest, 
All  to  honor  Sir  George  Simpson,  famous  traveler  and  guest. 

Far  and  near  the  people  gathered  to  the  costly  banquet  set, 
And  exchanged  congratulations  with  the  English  baronet; 

Till,  the  formal  speeches  ended,  and  amidst  the  laugh  and  wine, 
Some  one  spoke  of  Concha's  lover,-  heedless  of  the  warning  sign. 

Quickly  then  cried  Sir  George  Simpson, "Speak  no  ill  of  him,  I 

pray,- 
He  is  dead.  He  died,  poor  fellow,  forty  years  ago  this  day. 

"  Died  while  speeding  home  to  Russia,  falling  from  a  fractious  horse. 
Leftasweetheart,too,theytellme.  Married,!  suppose, of  course! 

Lives  she  yet?"  A  deathlike  silence  fell  on  banquet,  guests,  and 
hall, 
And  a  trembling  figure  rising  fixed  the  awestruck  gaze  of  all. 

Two  black  eyes  in  darkened  orbits  gleamed  beneath  the  nun's 

white  hood; 
Black  serge  hid  the  wasted  figure,  bowed  and  stricken  where  it 

stood. 

"  Lives  she  yet  ?"  Sir  George  repeated.  All  were  hushed  as  Concha 

drew 
Closer  yet  her  nun's  attire.    Senor,  pardon,  she  died  too ! " 


THE  RUSSELL  CALIFORNIA  REPRINTS 

ALL  IN  LIMITED  AND  NUMBERED  EDITIONS  -  ALL  TYPOGRAPHY  DONE  BY  HAND 

CALIFORNIA.  A  History  of  Upper  &  Lower  California 

from  their  first  discovery  to  the  present  time  [1835].  Comprising  an 
account  of  the  climate,  soil,  natural  productions,  agriculture,  etc.  A  full  view 
of  the  missionary  establishments,  and  condition  of  the  free  and  domesticated 
Indians.  With  an  appendix  relating  to  steam-navigation  in  the  Pacific.  "With 
anew  map,  plans  of  the  harbors,  and  numerous  engravings.  By  Alexander 
Forbes,  Esq.  London:  1839.  5  Reprinted  in  a  limited  edition  of  250  copies. 
But  few  copies  left.  Some  in  rich  foreign  bindings.  Prices  upon  application. 

NARRATIVE  OF  EDWARD  McGOWAN.  Including 

a  full  account  of  the  author's  adventures  and  perils  while  persecuted  by  the 
San  Francisco  Vigilance  Committee  of  1856.  Together  with  a  report  of  his 
trial,  which  resulted  in  his  acquittal.  San  Francisco:  1857.  5  Reprinted  in  a 
limited  edition  of  200  numbered  copies.  All  the  old  woodcuts.  Price  $10,  net. 

VOYAGE  OF  THE  SONORA  in  the  second  Bucareli 

expedition  to  explore  the  northwest  coast,  survey  the  port  of  San  Francisco, 
and  found  Franciscan  missions  and  a  presidio  and  pueblo  at  that  port.  The 
journal  kept  in  1775  on  the  SonorabyDon  Francisco  Antonio  Mourelle,  the 
second  pilot  of  the  fleet,  and  translated  by  the  Hon.DainesBarrington  from 
the  original  Spanish  manuscript.  London:  1781.  5  Reprinted  in  a  limited 
edition  of  230  copies.  With  many  notes,  showing  the  voyages  of  the  earliest 
explorers  on  the  coast,  etc.;  a  reproduction  of  the  large  Spanish  carta  general, 
showing  the  Spanish  discoveries  on  the  coast  up  to  1791,  etc.  Price  $15,  net. 

The  SHIRLEY  LETTERS  from  CALIFORNIA  MINES 

in  1851-52.  A  series  of  letters  fromDame  Shirley  (Mrs. Louise  Amelia  Knapp 
Smith  Clappe)  to  her  sister  in  Massachusetts,  j  Reprinted  from  the  Pioneer 
Magazine  of  1854-55,  in  a  limited  edition  of  450  numbered  copies.  Many 
fine  illustrations  of  mining  scenes.  A  handsome  gift-book.  Price  $12. 50,net. 

LIFE  IN  CALIFORNIA  BEFORE  THE  CONQUEST. 

By  Alfred  Robinson,  an  American  comerciante  in  the  Mexican  territorio  of 
Nueva  California  for  many  years  after  1829.  5  Reprinted,  in  a  limited  edition 
of  250  copies,  from  the  first  edition  published  in  New  York  in  1846.  With 
notes,  and  reproductions  of  the  lithographs  in  the  first  edition.  Price  $15,  net. 

IN  PRESS  -  WILL  BE  READY  IN  AUTUMN  OF  1926 
The  REZANOV  VOYAGE  to  NUEVA  CALIFORNIA 

5  This  is  the  report  of  Nicolai  Petrovich  Rezanov  to  the  Russian  minister  of 
commerce  at  Saint  Petersburg.  Therein  he  details  the  chief  incidents  of  that 
historic  Russian  voyage  in  1806, -"the  first  footstep  of  a  Russian  on  the  soil 
of  Nueva  California."  The  MS.  translation  in  the  Academy  of  Pacific  Coast 
History  at  Berkeley  is  poor  work.  Its  omissions  are  now  supplied  and  many 
inaccuracies  corrected.  The  edition  is  limited  -  some  two  hundred  and  sixty 
copies.  Intending  subscribers  will  kindly  notify  this  Press  of  that  fact,  and 
notice  will  be  sent  when  the  book  is  ready  and  subscription-books  are  open. 

REZANOV  IS  HIS  OWN  INTERPRETER  -  HE  MAKES  PLAIN  HIS  ACTS  &=  INTENTIONS 


THE   PRIVATE  PRESS   OF  THOMAS   C.  RUSSELL 

1734    NINETEENTH    AVENUE,    SAN    FRANCISCO,    CALIFORNIA 


The  Re z anov Voy age  to 
Nueva  California  in  1806 


Some  Specimen  Pages 


THE      SECOND      DIVISION 

AT    THE    PUERTO    DE    SAN    FRANCISCO 

Enter  the  Puerto  de  San  Francisco  -  Challenged  -  Surrender 
of  shipdemanded-Politicexplanations-DonLuisAntonio 
Arguello,comandante  temporal  of  Presidio  -  Invitation  to  dinner 

-  Padre  Jose  AntonioUria-  Overwhelmed  by  cordial  reception  - 
Tactfulness  of  Don  Luis  -Where  were  the  Nadeschda  and  the 
Neva?  -  Further  politic  explanations  -  Mision  San  Francisco  de 
Asi's  -  Misionero  padres  in  favor  of  trade  -  Boston  vessels  spread 
reports  of  Russian  distress  in  north  -  Rezanov's  generosity  and 
display  of  wealth  -Abundance  atNuevaCaliforniaand  its  climate 
invite  crew  to  desert -The  hospitable  Argiiellos  -The  beautiful 
DonaConcepcion  -Past  sufferings  delightfully  requited  -Arrival 
of  Don  Jose  Joaquin  Arrillaga,gobernador  of  Nueva  California  - 
He  is  saluted  by  two  forts  -  Artillery  increased  since  Vancouver's 
visit  in  1792  -  Questions  of  etiquette  -  Padre  PedroDe  laCueva 

-  Rezanov's  reception  by  the  gobernador  at  Presidio  -  Don  Jose 
Darfo  Argiiello,  comandante  of  the  Presidio  de  San  Francisco  - 
Don  Jose  De  la  Guerray  Noriega,  comandante  of  the  Presidio  de 
Monterey  -  Both  come  from  Monterey  -  Gobernador  grants  a 
business  interview  -  Rezanov's  plea  for  commercial  intercourse 

-  Disclaimer  of  Russia's  desire  to  colonize  in  Spanish  territory  - 
Wealth  in  north  sufficient  -  Object  of  visit  to  procure  breadstuffs 
and  agree  upontradepreliminaries  -  Gobernadordefers  decision 

-  Rezanov's  private  source  of  information  -  Gobernador  fearful 
of  compromising  himself  -  Possible  breach  of  concord  between 
their  governments  -  Rezanov's  speedy  departure  requested  -  He 
protests  -  Asks  permission  to  purchase  breadstuffs  while  nothing 
prevents  -  Also  to  permit  barter  for  goods  on  ship  -  Arguments 
used  to  accomplish  his  purpose  -  No  grain  delivered  -  Incidents 
rendering  his  position  critical  -  Decides  to  become  serious  with 
the  beautiful  Concha  Argiiello  -  Her  disposition  and  character  - 
Her  merry  description  of  Nueva  California  -  The  proposal  and 
acceptance  -  Herparents  shocked  -  Perplexity7  of  the  misioneros 

9 


UNIVERSITY  OF 
ILLINOIS  LIBRARY 


10        THE   REZANOV  VOYAGE 

-  Her  brave  front  overcomes  all  opposition  -  Final  decision  left 
to  throne  of  Rome-Thebetrothal  -What  it  broughtabout-The 
Russian  now  master  -  Hispaniolized,  in  estimation  of  Spaniards 
-Grain  now  delivered  and  merchandise  disposed  of -Ambitious 
plans  of  Rezanov  -  His  regrets  for  Russia's  lost  opportunities  to 
occupy  the  whole  coast  -  Spanish  court's  fear  of  Russia  -  Trade 
neglected  by  Spaniards  in  past-  Chinese  goods  reach  California 
via  Mexico  -  Manila  a  free  port  -  Enormous  profits  -  Spaniards 
open  ports  on  Eastern  coast  of  America  to  United  States  -  Plans 
to  further  trade  between  Nueva  California  and  Russia  -  Spanish 
king's  expenditures  for  maintenance  of  garrisons  and  warships  - 
Funds  for  the  padres  with  which  to  erect  churches  -  Smuggling 
by  vessels  from  the  United  States  -  Leave  desperate  ruffians  and 
women  -"Disturb  our  peace  and  corrupt  our  morals"- Attempt 
to  remain  permanently  -The  Bostonian  Captain  O'Cain  and  his 
doings  -  Successful  plan  of  the  gobernadorto  drive  off  intruders  - 
Vessels  and  officers  trading  or  smuggling  on  coast  -  News  from 
Europe  -  Napoleonic  wars  -  System  of  official  communication 
between  Europe,  Mexico,and  Nueva  California  -  Precautions  in 
case  vessel  carrying  dispatches  is  taken  by  enemy  -  Letters  and 
documents  in  duplicate  or  triplicate  -  Rezanov  outlines  manner 
in  which  his  romance  originated  -  Sets  out  his  plans  for  serving 
his  country  and  furthering  its  interests  in  America  in  case  of  its 
completion  -  Could  not  be  done  by  any  one  else  -  He  sacrifices 
himself  for  the  good  of  others. 


THE      THIRD       DIVISION 

PUERTO    DE   SAN  FRANCISCO  TO  SITKA 

Departure  from  Puerto  de  San  Francisco  -  Gobernador 
and  friends  go  to  Fuerte  de  San  Joaquin  to  take  leave  of 
the  Russians  on  the  Juno  -  Russians  salute  with  seven  shots,  and 
Spaniards  with  nine  -  Island  of  Kaigan  -  Becalmed  -  Heavy  gale 

-  Arrival  at  Norfolk  Sound  -  Salute  fort  -  No  reply  -  Prepare  for 
hostilities  -  Reassured  on  arrival  of  bidarkas  -  Anchor  in  harbor 
of  New  Archangel  -  Fever  and  an  eruption  broke  out  on  voyage 

-  All  recover  -  Occurrences  in  Russian  American  possessions 
during  absence  -  Scurvy  at  New  Archangel  and  Kadiak  -  Many 
deaths  -  Herring  appear,  and  relieve  situation  -  Armed  Kolosh 
come  to  fish  -  Precautionary  measures  doubled  -  Arrival  of  ship 
O'Cain  -  Captain  Winship  refuses  to  trade  with  Kolosh  upon 
seeing  critical  situation  -They  leave  all  the  sooner  -  Their  fear 
of  Baranov  -  Rezanov  regrets  that  Baranov  will  leave  country  - 
Kolosh  watch  fort  closely  -  Rumors  of  attempt  to  capture  port 

-  Defenses  sufficient  -  All  men  armed  while  at  work  -  Yakutat 
captured  by  savages  -  Fort  fired  and  people  killed  -  Perpetrators 
bribed  by  Akoi  Kolosh  -  Advices  from  other  places  of  threats  to 
exterminate  Russians  -  Hardships  suffered  in  transporting  furs 
and  provisions  at  Kadiak  -  Many  drowned  -  Territory  requires 
seaworthy  boats  instead  of  bidarkas  -  Captain  Winship  reports 
coming  of  Americans  to  settle  on  the  Columbia  River  -  Easier 
for  Russians  to  settle  there  -  Claims  of  the  United  States  to  this 
shore  challenged  -  Prediction  that  they  will  discontinue  making 
settlements  there  -Excluded  from  western  coasts  by  commercial 
agreement  -Names  of  Boston  vessels  cruising  and  trading  in  the 
sounds  and  on  coast  -Their  intrusion  resented  -  Not  necessary 
to  enter  into  negotiations  concerning  coast  with  United  States  - 
Bostonians  will  quit  if  country  strengthened  -Kamehameha,  king 
of  Sandwich  Islands  -  His  enterprise  -  Desires  to  enter  into  trade 
relations  -  Yermak  and  Rotislav,  ships  built  by  Baranov  -  Much 
success  in  horticulture  -  Rezanov's  plea  in  closing  his  report. 

65 


THE       FIRST       DIVISION 

SITKA  TO    PUERTO   DE   SAN  FRANCISCO 

Calamitous  situation  of  the  Russian  American  possessions 
in  Alaska  -  Privations  and  starvation  -  Purchase  from  the 
Americans  of  the  ship  Juno  and  her  cargo  -  Bare  subsistence  on 
the  meager  supply  of  provisions  on  board  -  Resolve  of  Rezanov 
to  save  the  Russian  American  possessions  or  perish  -  Voyage  to 
Nueva  California  determined  upon  -  Leave  Sitka  on  the  Juno  - 
Scurvy-stricken  crew  -  Former  intention  to  explore  the  Columbia 
River  -  Its  mouth  sighted  -  Contrary  winds  drive  ship  south  - 
Return  on  following  day  -  Carried  farther  north  by  strong  current 

-  Gray's  Harbor  -  North  shore  resembles  mouth  of  Columbia  - 
Doctor  Langsdorff  enters  harbor  in  bidarka  -  Country  seemed 
to  be  inhabited  -  Another  attempt  to  enter  Columbia  -Anchor 
under  difficulties  -  Rescued  from  critical  situation  -  Sickness  of 
crew  compels  departure  for  south  -  Favorable  wind  -  Arrival  at 
entrance  to  Puerto  de  San  Francisco  on  night  of  March  27, 1806 

-  Anchor  outside  on  account  of  dense  fog,  and  wait  till  morning. 

3 


THE    THIRD     DIVISION 
PUERTO  DE  SAN  FRANCISCO  TO  SITKA 

I  must  also  report  to  your  excellency  our  return 
voyage  from  California,  and  the  circumstances 
connected  therewith. 

We  left  the  Puerto  de  San  Francisco  on  the  10th 
of  May,  1806  [o.  s.],  at  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
The  gobernador  and  all  our  friends  went  to  the  fort 
to  take  leave  of  us.  We  saluted  with  seven  shots,  and 
they  answered  with  nine.  After  leaving,  we  gained 
only  in  longitude  at  first,  and  after  running  over  ten 
degrees  in  that  direction,  we  found  a  favorable  wind, 
which  carried  us  to  the  island  of  Kaigan.  Here  we 
were  becalmed  ten  days.  At  this  time  many  of  our 
shrouds  gave  way,  and  we  had  hardly  succeeded  in 
mending  them  with  yarn  made  from  cable  and  rope 
ends,  when  a  very  heavy  gale  arose,  in  which  all  our 
masts  would  have  snapped  off  had  not  our  repairs 
been  made. 

We  arrived  off  Norfolk  Sound  on  the  8th  of  June, 
and  saluted  the  fort  by  firing.  As  they  did  not  reply, 
and  as  we  neither  met  bidarkas  nor  saw  any  human 
beings  anywhere,  we  became  doubtful,  especially  as 

67 


64        THE  REZANOV  VOYAGE 

These,  gracious  sire,  are  all  the  observations  that 
my  six  weeks'  sojourn  in  Nueva California  allowed 
me  to  make  in  that  country.  You  will  pardon  me  if 
I  have  at  times  expressed  my  own  personal  feelings, 
and  ascribe  such  expressions  to  a  weakness  common 
to  mankind. 

*  #  *  Should  fate  decree  the  completion  of  my 
romance,  -  not  begun  in  hot  passion,  which  is  not 
becoming  at  my  age,  but  arising  under  the  pressure 
of  conditions,  -  remoteness,  duties,  responsibilities, 
-  perhaps  also  under  the  influence  of  remnants  of 
feelings  that  in  the  past  were  a  source  of  happiness 
in  my  life,  -  then,  and  in  such  case,  I  shall  be  in  a 
position  to  serve  my  country  once  again,  as  by  a 
personal  examination  of  the  harbor  of  Vera  Cruz, 
Mexico,  and  by  a  trip  through  the  interior  parts  of 
America.  This  could  not  be  accomplished  by,  nor 
would  permission  be  granted  to,  any  one  else,  the 
suspicious  Spanish  temperament  forbidding  such 
investigations.  I  should  also  be  able  to  inform  you 
fully,  gracious  sire,  as  to  their  trade,  their  surplus, 
and  their  needs.  Upon  becoming  acquainted  with 
the  viceroy  of  Nueva  Espana,  I  could  be  of  benefit 


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